In vivo characterization of dynein-driven nanovectors using Drosophila oocytes.

Molecular motors transport various cargoes including vesicles, proteins and mRNAs, to distinct intracellular compartments. A significant challenge in the field of nanotechnology is to improve drug nuclear delivery by engineering nanocarriers transported by cytoskeletal motors. However, suitable in vivo models to assay transport and delivery efficiency remain very limited. Here, we develop a fast and genetically tractable assay to test the efficiency and dynamics of fluospheres (FS) using microinjection into Drosophila oocytes coupled with time-lapse microscopy. We designed dynein motor driven FS using a collection of dynein light chain 8 (LC8) peptide binding motifs as molecular linkers and characterized in real time the efficiency of the FS movement according to its linker's sequence. Results show that the conserved LC8 binding motif allows fast perinuclear nanoparticle's accumulation in a microtubule and dynein dependent mechanism. These data reveal the Drosophila oocyte as a new valuable tool for the design of motor driven nanovectors.

Palladium(II)-mediated assembly of biotinylated ion channels.

Simple synthetic methodology has been used to create biotinylated pyridyl cholate lipids that can undergo multiple self-assembly events when inserted into phospholipid vesicles; Pd(II) links cholates into transmembrane lipids, while avidin laterally clusters these complexes together and concomitantly assembles the vesicles into aggregates. The transmembrane assembly of cholates by Pd(II) "opened" the ion channels, whereas avidin addition produced vesicle aggregates, giving a system that mimicked both transmembrane transport and cellular adhesion. Complexation of these Pd(II)-linked cholates by avidin gave a measurable decrease in ion flow, suggesting some channels became blocked or were prevented from adopting the optimum geometry for ion conduction. This reflects the importance of spatially appropriate preorganisation when generating active supramolecular assemblies.

Chemoselective catalysis with organosoluble Lewis acidic polyoxotungstates.

The preparation of new organosoluble Lewis acidic polyoxometalates (POMs) is reported. These complexes were prepared by the incorporation of Zr, Sc, and Y atoms into the corresponding monolacunary Dawson [P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) and Keggin [PW(11)O(39)](7-) polyoxotungstates. The catalytic activity of these compounds was evaluated for C-C bond formation in the Diels-Alder, Mannich, and Mukaiyama-type reactions. Comparisons with previously described Lewis acidic POMs are reported. Competitive reactions between imines and aldehydes or between various imines demonstrated that fine tuning of the reactivity could be reached by varying the metal atom incorporated into the polyanionic framework. A series of experiments that employed pyridine derivatives allowed us to distinguish between the Lewis and induced Brønsted acidity of the POMs. These catalysts activate imines in a Lewis acidic way, whereas aldehydes are activated by indirect Brønsted catalysis.

Regioselective activation of oxo ligands in functionalized dawson polyoxotungstates.

The organic side chain of tin-substituted Dawson polyoxotungstates alpha1- and alpha2-[P2W17O61{SnCH2CH2COOH}]7- can be used to direct regioselective acylations of oxo ligands in the inorganic backbone, which was examined both experimentally and computationally. Acylation of the oxo ligand gave exalted electrophilicity to the acyl moiety, and the compounds that were obtained led to direct ligation of POMs to complex organic molecules.

Sensing the chirality of Dawson lanthanide polyoxometalates [alpha1-LnP2W17O61]7- by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.

Lanthanide complexes of the chiral Dawson phosphotungstate [alpha(1)-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) were used to study the formation of diastereomers with optically pure organic ligands. The present work started with the full assignment of the (183)W NMR spectra of [alpha(1)-Yb(H(2)O)(4)P(2)W(17)O(61)](7-) at different temperatures and concentrations, which allowed the structure of the dimerized form in aqueous solution to be established. Different enantiopure amino acids and phosphonic acids were screened as ligands. Both types allowed chiral differentiation by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy under fast-exchange conditions. Functional groups with a good affinity for the oxo framework of the polyoxometalate were identified, and maps of the interactions between L-serine and N-phosphonomethyl-L-proline with [alpha(1)-Yb(H(2)O)(4)P(2)W(17)O(61)](7-) were established. This demonstrates the power of (183)W NMR spectroscopy to elucidate the molecular recognition of inorganic molecules by organic compounds. N-Phosphonomethyl-L-proline appears to be a convenient ligand to promote separation of the diastereomers and ultimately resolution of the enantiomers of [alpha(1)-Yb(H(2)O)(4)P(2)W(17)O(61)](7-).

Increased Lewis acidity in hafnium-substituted polyoxotungstates.

Monolacunary polyoxotungstates [alpha(1)-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) and [alpha-PW(11)O(39)](7-) react with HfCl(4) to yield [alpha(1)-HfP(2)W(17)O(61)](6-) and [alpha-Hf(OH)PW(11)O(39)](4-), isolated as organo-soluble tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts. Subsequent analyses, including mass spectrometry, show that they are stronger Lewis acids than (TBA)(5)H(2)[alpha(1)-YbP(2)W(17)O(61)]. The new polyoxotungstates catalyze Lewis acid mediated organic reactions, such as Mukaiyama aldol and Mannich-type additions. In particular, reactions with aldehydes, which were impossible with lanthanide polyoxotungstates, are made possible. Thus these modifications of the polyoxometalate composition allowed fine tuning of the Lewis acidity. The catalysts could be easily recovered and reused.

Production and reactions of organic-soluble lanthanide complexes of the monolacunary Dawson [alpha1-P2W17O61]10- polyoxotungstate.

The incorporation of lanthanides into polyoxometalates provides entry to new classes of potentially useful materials that combine the intrinsic properties of both constituents. To utilize the [alpha1-Ln(H2O)4P2W17O61]7- species in applications of catalysis and development of luminescent materials, the chemistry of this family of lanthanide polyoxometalates in organic solvents has been developed. Organic-soluble polyoxometalate-lanthanide complexes TBA5H2[alpha1-Ln(H2O)4P2W17O61] (Ln = La(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Yb(III)) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, acid-base titration, IR, 31P NMR, and mass spectrometry. The synthetic procedure involves a cation metathesis reaction in aqueous solution under strict pH control. A solid-liquid-phase transfer protocol yielded a unique species (TBA)8K3[Yb(alpha1-YbP2W17O61)2] with three ytterbium ions and two [alpha1-P2W17O61]10- polyoxotungstates. A centrosymmetric dimeric complex [{alpha1-La(H2O)4P2W17O61}2]14- was crystallized from aqueous solution and characterized by X-ray diffraction. ESI mass spectral analysis of the complexes TBA5H2[alpha1-Ln(H2O)4P2W17O61] shows that similar dimers exist in organic solution, in particular for the early lanthanides. Fragmentation in the mass spectrometer of the complexes from dry acetonitrile solution involves double protonation of an oxo ligand and loss of one water molecule. Low mass tungstate fragments combine into [(WO3)n]2- (n = 1-5) ions and their condensation products with phosphate. Reaction of TBA5H2[alpha1-Eu(H2O)4P2W17O61] with 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine showed an increase of the europium luminescence. This result is explained by the formation of a ternary complex of [alpha1-Eu(H2O)4P2W17O61]7- and two sensitizing ligands.

A stereoselective route toward polyhydoxylated piperidines. A total synthesis of (+/-)-deoxymannojirimycin.

[reaction: see text] A chemo- and stereoselective palladium-catalyzed amination of silylated butenediol dicarbonates has allowed for the introduction of a glycine moiety to obtain a desired functionalized epoxysilane. A stereoselective aldolization then delivered the piperidine ring which may be used as a precursor for the synthesis of a variety of polyhydroxylated azasugars. This efficient approach has been illustrated by the synthesis of 1-deoxymannojirimycin including a stereoselective reduction with LAH and a Tamao-Fleming oxidation of a C-SiMe(2)Ph bond.